Week 16

You're Invited to the Choir Concert!

When: Tuesday, December 18

Time: 7:15 pm

Where: JSIS stage

The choir has been practicing since October, and they are excited to present their hard work. They will perform songs about family and friends around the world, as well as some songs from their weekend performance at Wallingford Center.

Bring a dessert to share after the concert, and come enjoy the music!

Week 15

Thank you to everyone who attended our Fall Concert! The students have enjoyed watching their performances in class this week, and have been evaluating their performances and their audience behavior. Most classes have also had a free choice day since the concert, and have been working on audience behavior as their classmates perform.

This week, 5th grade started a unit on samba batucada, also known as the percussive side of samba. In the coming weeks, they will be learning to play and improvise in this exciting musical style.

Next week, 4th grade will bring home recorders. They have reviewed the notes they learned last year, and will be learning notes with the left hand and more complex rhythms.

Students in grades K-4 have begun to learn "Phleng Wan Koet," a birthday song from Thailand. Hopefully, we will learn the words well enough to sing it at a Monday morning assembly in the coming weeks.

Week 13

Concert week is here!

Students in all grades have been working very hard at singing, dancing, and drawing for our Wednesday concerts. Please come and see what they have prepared!

Although most classes filled the stamp chart and earned their first free choice day during conferences, I have made them wait until after the concert to have their free day. During free choice days, students have the option to have the class sing a song of their choice, play a music game or dance, or play the guitar or piano for the class. Students who take lessons on other instruments may also wish to perform for the class on their turn, and that is welcome, as well.

Week 10

Conferences have started, and will continue through the next two weeks. If you would like to schedule a conference with Ms. Katie to discuss what your child is doing in music this year, you may either stop by the music room and select a time on the sheet by the door, or e-mail Ms. Katie and we will set up a meeting. You are, or course, always welcome to stop by the music room during the day to see what the classes are doing. I hope to see you soon!

Weeks 8 and 9

Happy November!

Everyone is making great progress in music. 5th grade is making new discoveries everyday on the recorder, and 4th grade has learned a circle dance and is improving their steps all the time. 3rd grade has begun work on "Mbira Jam," a piece for marimba and xylophone, and 2nd grade is making great strides toward learning to read their first notes! 1st grade started work on their song for the fall concert, "Na I'a 'Ono E" - it's an Hawaiian song about different native fish. They have also been coloring pictures of these fish. Kindergarten sang "O ma washi" for Mrs U today, and have been working on moving to music in a variety of ways.

CHOIR NOTE
If your student has not yet returned the response sheet about singing at Wallingford Center this December, please send it in this week or email Ms. Katie at karaschko@seattelschools.org.

Week 7

Now that our Fall Concert is about a month away, all classes have started learning songs in preparation for it. To tie in with our arts focus for 2007-2008, this concert will be a sample of music from the native people of North America. Ask your student about their song. We have been discussing the areas from which these songs come, as well as the lyrics and subtext of the songs.

Week 6

Now we're really getting into the swing of things!

5th grade has continued their recorder study, and has started learning "The Boatmen," a new song. If your student remembered to bring his/her recorder home, ask to hear the opening of this piece. It starts on "G" (thumb, 1, 2, 3)

4th grade has made great progress on "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." As we sing through the 28 verses of this ballad, we have been discussing the story on which it was based, and have learned many new words, as well!

The 3rd grade classes have learned to play metallophones and xylophones, and are practicing playing beats and rhythms. They have also started learning (or in some cases, reviewing) "Los Pollitos," and have practiced both the beat and rhythm of this familiar song, as well.

Second Grade has learned a dance called "Seven Jumps," and most students can do the entire dance from memory without prompting from Ms. Katie. Ask your student in what order their feet, knees, elbows, and head have to wait and fall to the ground. They have all become very adept at balancing on one foot, or one knee, or one elbow.

Hooray! This week, every first grade class had at least one lesson with all "Good" marks on their teacher report. This means they were able to:
1. Follow Directions the First Time Given
2. Raise Your Hand to Speak
3. Keep Your Hands and Feet to Yourself
4. Pay Attention to the Speaker
The last one has been particularly challenging this week, as the speaker has been not only Ms. Katie and the piano, but also the CD player, classmates with drums, and other solo leaders.

Kindergarten has finally been able to play instruments this week! It was very exciting the first time Ms. Katie handed out the shakers, but everyone practiced their skills at following directions, and it went very well.

Next Monday, we will be singing the JSIS song at Monday morning assembly. Come and sing with us!

Week 5

Choir started this week, but if your student still wants to join, it is not too late! Choir meets every Wednesday morning at 8:30 - just have your student bring the completed permission form.

This week in music, 5th grade started recorder and 3rd grade started metallophones, xylophones, and marimba. If your student has not yet brought in a folder for music, please send one in next week - the worksheets are coming!

Week 4

This week in music, we continued the marathon of individual assessments, along with our Mary Poppins sing-a-long.

Thank you to everyone who came to see the music room on Curriculum Night! It was great to see so many people excited about music this year. If you were not able to make it to Curriculum Night, or you still have questions about music, please feel free to e-mail Ms. Katie at school.

Next week, Choir starts! Choir this year will be only from October through December, and other ensembles will happen later in the year. If your child is interested in joining choir, please return the letter that was sent home on Wednesday (if you need an extra, more are available at the front of the school, with PTSA handouts and other communications). Choir will be on Wednesday mornings at 8:30, and I look forward to seeing many happy faces!

Week 3

Ms. Katie is doing in-class assessments of all students this week. This is in keeping with the all-school focus on using student data to drive and guide instruction. In this beginning of the year assessment, each student is asked to sing a short song of their choosing, to clap the rhythm of an unknown song, and to sight-read the melody of the same song. Please note that the results of this assessment will not affect your student's music grade. This assessment period is intended to help Ms. Katie plan the curriculum for the rest of the year. While the students are pulled out to be assessed individually, the rest of the class is watching (and singing along with) the musical Mary Poppins.

This week at Monday morning assembly, the school sang the John Stanford International School chant. The returning students were great leaders, and the new students are excited to learn it.

Curriculum night is next Wednesday at 6:30 pm. Please stop by Room 320 with any questions you have about music this year, or to sign up to help out with performances or in class.

Week 2

Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 need a 2-pocket folder for Music. This folder may have any decoration desired, or it may be blank or a solid color. Brackets or 3-pronged folders are fine, as long as they also have pockets. These folders will be used throughout the year to hold in-class work, songsheets, and instrumental music.

Week 1

It's been a great first week! Every class came to music once this week, and started in right away. The 5th graders helped teach Ms. Katie the JSIS song, and the 3rd graders showed their prowess at singing on "Tue, Tue." Most classes also learned "Ahlan Wa Sahlan," a greeting song from Lebanon, which will be featured at the Monday morning assembly next week.